Play-suit



April 5, ,1932 G. F. EARNSHAW 1,852,993

PLAY SUIT Filed Jan. 1e, 192sV mi w I6 marzir am; 25W.; M* W@ Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE GEORGE F. EARNSHAW, OF NEWTON, MASSACHSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO EARNSHLAW KNIT- TING- COMPANY, F NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COBPORATTON OF MASSAGHUj SETTS f i PLAY-SUIT i Application led January v16, 1928. Serial No.- 247,054.

This invention relates to a play-suit which, although designed with special reference to infants and children, is capable of general use.

The main object of the invention is the'production of a garment capable of general use as a play, romping or bathing suit which exposes the body to air and sun and leaves it free and unrestricted and yet conforms to the dictates of modesty. v

Another object of the invention -is the provision of a garmentjwhich may be put on and removed with a minimum of eiort and without requiring the manipulation of buttons or other fastening means.

A further object is the provision of a suit of simple and economical construction, ca-

pable of being made at a llow cost and yet at'-v tractive in appearance.

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically described hereinater.

f The invention contemplates a garment comprising a trunk portion having supporting shoulder straps permanently secured to the trunk portionvwith a shield or panel of netted or meshedmaterial for concealing the front of the bodyof the wearer. The trunk portion is of the abbreviated type and preferably legless in order to expose as much of the body to the sun and air as possible and the shield or panel of netted or meshed material fills in the space between the shoulder straps'V on -the front and the top front edge of the trunk portion, thereby concealing that part of the body but still permitting air and sun to reach the body through the open meshes of the material.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a rear or back elevation of a play-suit constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is a view on an enlarged scaleof one form of netted or meshed mate Arial suitable for the shield or panel part of ,the suit.

Referring to the drawings, designates the trunk portion of the garment having side leg openings 12 and a waist band 14 which may be ofelastic material or not as preferred.

The leg openings 12 are preferably finishedv with elastic binding 16 in order to tit the legs snugly. The trunk portion 10 may be made of knitted, woven or any other suitable material and may be made full or tight as desired; Ornamental elastic stitching 18 is employed for attachment of the waistband and leg bindings to the trunk portion 10.

For supporting the trunk portion on the body of the wearer, a pair of shoulder straps 20 are permanently attached at both ends to the trunk portion. Preferably, the front ends 22 of the straps are secured at the side seams 24 of the waist band of the trunk portionand the back ends 26 of the straps to the waist band inthe rear at suitable points intermediate the side seams.

Between the front portions of the shoulder straps and stitched thereto and to the front portion of the waist band by stitching 28 and 18 respectively is a shield or panel30 ofnetted o1' meshed material for concealing the front upper portion of the body of the wearer. The f back portions of the shoulder straps are formed by stitching the edges of the bindings 32 and 35 together. This method produces shoulder straps which are suiiiciently wide to. prevent curling and to obviate cutting into the flesh to the discomfort of the wearer.

By attaching the front ends 22 of the shoulder straps to the side seams of the Waist band, the shield or panel at the waistline is drawn around the sides of the body thereby insuring a close fit over the chest portion of the wearer. The back portions of the shoulder straps may drop straight down to the waistband from the shoulders in which ncase a cross-strap 36 may be fastened at one end to one of the shoulder straps and at its other end by providing a buttonhole 38 toreceive a button 40 fastened to the other shoulder stepping into the trunk portion and drawingA strap so that the two straps may be buttoned together to prevent slipping off the shoulders or the back portions of the shoulder straps may be crossed in the ordinary manner which will obviate the' use of the cross-straps 36.

The garment may be made of any suitable material or of various materials to suit various uses or of different colored materials or may be decorated to add to its attractive ap-l pearance.

In the use of a garment made in accordance with the invention, the garment is put on by the straps over the shoulders and is removed by reversing these steps. In garments having crossed shoulder straps, it is, of course, unnecessary to manipulate any buttons or fastening devices but in the garment shown in the drawings, there is required the manipulation of merely one button for fastening the cross straps. The garment can, therefore be put on and removed most expeditiously. Its use gives the utmost freedom of movement to the wearer without restricting freedom of motion in any respect and at the same time exposes the body to the fullest degree permissible with modesty to sun and air. The advantage of a front panel of netted or meshed material is obvious because while it conceals the portions of the body covered thereby yet it permits the concealed portion to receive a benefit from the fresh circulation of air through the meshes and to the influence 'of the sunlight. v

It is to be understood that the garment shown in the drawings and described herevinbefore is merely illustrative of the invention and that the invention is not to be lim; ited to the form shown and described since it may be embodied in various other forms of construction all within the purview of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A play suit including a trunk portion, a pair of shoulder straps, each secured at one end to the said trunk portion at the waist line and adjacent one side thereof and at its other end to the back of the trunk portion, said straps diverging downwardly at the front, a neck portion connecting the straps at the front thereof near their shoulder engaging portions, and a front shield or panel filling in the space between said straps, neck portion and trunk portion, said shield or panel being of a mesh formation sufficiently close to conceal the front upper portion of the body from view and yet leave the same exposed to the infiuence of sun light.

2. A play suit including a trunk portion, a pair of shoulder straps, each secured at one end to the said trunk portion at the waist line and adjacent one side thereof and at its other end to the back of the trunk portion, said straps converging upwardly at the front, a neck portion connecting the straps at the ing the ree end of said fastenin strap tothe back ortion of the other shoul er strap.

' 3. pla suit comprising a trunk portion, a pair of slioulder straps each secured at its ends to the trunk portion at the waist-line thereof, a relatively narrow front neck portion extendin between and connectin the straps at the ront thereof near their s 10u1- der engaging portions, and a front shield or panel iilling in the space between said straps, neck portion, and trunk portion, said shield or panel being supported by said straps and neck portion substantially free from trunk supporting strain and being of a mesh formation suiciently close to conceal the front upper portion of the body from view yand yet leave the same exposed to the influence of sunlight, the other areas between said strapsv above said trunk portion being completely open to leave the body of the wearer above the trunk portion fully exposed except for said straps, neck portion, and front panel.

4. An article of the character described consisting of a childs play suit comprising a trunk portion, supporting means including a pair of shoulder straps each secured at its wearer above the trunk portion fully exposed except for said supporting means and front shield member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of January, 1928. GEORGE F. y,EARNSHAVW 

